Nottingham Light Night 2018

If ever you needed a slight reprieve from the dark and gloomy winter evenings – Nottingham Light Night 2018 was it.

The annual, free festival has been taking place now since 2008. Thousands of people descended upon a very chilly Nottingham (before snowmageddon but still bitterly cold) on February 23rd to see what was on offer on this it’s 10th anniversary year.

Back in January I was lucky enough to have also witnessed the “Festival of Light” in the old smoke, so I was quietly confident that I might be quite hard to please –  I’m very happy to admit that Nottingham did not disappoint.

The evening began in the most magical way with candlelit dinner in a cave – an ACTUAL sandstone, Saxon era cave. One of the most fascinating and alluring things about Nottingham for me is the fact that it’s built on a network of historic caves, many of which are still present and also visible for curious little eyes like mine.  The Hand and Heart on Derby Road (Check it out here) is one of these hot spots, with the actual restaurant section of the premises occupying a real cave – A REAL CAVE! Not just that, but they’ve only gone and decked it out with fairy lights haven’t they?  It was a ‘Beth Anne’ dream come true.  To be fair they probably could’ve served me a plate of jellied eels and I wouldn’t have cared seeing as I was so smitten with my surroundings, but the food was also pretty fabulous.  Proper, hearty pub food in a truly unique setting; and like the proper British girl I am, I opted for pie and mash.  Winner!!

So with a belly now full of warmth we ventured out in to the city, opting to check out the “Enchanted Water” display alongside the canal at Castle Wharf.  Here we found a series of projections and installations depicting the history of the Nottingham and Beeston canal plus photographs of vintage trams, a far cry from the very new and modern tram network now functioning in Nottingham.

My other favourite spectacles at this site were the Liverpool Lantern Company’s incredibly realistic and beautiful wildlife puppets, they certainly gave London’s flying flamingos a run for their money; in fact two of the birds were both foraging around in my handbag at one point.  Massive hats off to the artists controlling them, the grace and the playfulness they were able to portray was really something.

I also loved the Rainbows’ charity candlelit jars lining the edge of the canal.  Not only were they all quite individual and beautiful but they were also raising money for families with special educational needs and disabilities – a cause quite close to my own heart as you know.

Perhaps the pièce de résistance for me though was Andy Mckeown’s “Stargate.”  A mesmerising waterfall installation that featured people’s selfies (previously uploaded to Instagram) and also live images of the crowd watching the display.  It was quite magical, especially when I managed to spot my own cold, little face amidst all those pretty lights – just let me take a “waterfall” selfie!!!

So in conclusion, despite the fact that I froze my bottom off (one bum cheek really did go numb) Nottingham Light Night was 100% worth it.  The effort and talent that went in to some of these displays just about bowled me over.  I will definitely go back next year, but perhaps with a hot water bottle stuffed up my jumper.

Never stop exploring or being curious – and you’re never too old to appreciate a fairy light.

Beth Anne xoxo